Spring Hanger rusted and broke welding on frame

BaltimoreMark · 09-12-2019, 09:02 PM

3 year old Surveyor 200MBLE with 8000 miles. Went to change a tire that was wearing on the outside and when I jacked up the RV, the spring Hanger was no longer attached to the frame. Showed a local RV repair guy some pictures and he verified the frame weld cracked where it attached to the hanger. It is undriveable and I'm stuck at Hickory Run SP in PA. There is rust on the frame around the hanger and a hole in the frame. I'll be calling my dealership tomorrow. Anyone else have this issue? Will Forrest River or Lippert repair this defect, my RV is a 2017, bought it new. Any suggestions?

Kf4mnc · 09-12-2019, 09:57 PM

Yes. Friday afternoon on Easter weekend 500 miles from home. (After having to have truck DEF tank worked on during the week while visiting Savanna, GA) Called a bunch of places and finally found a mobile trailer/semi repair shop that I limped to who temporarily welded it up. Then we were on our way.

Oh and my wife was 7 months pregnant.

**ependydad** · 09-12-2019, 11:23 PM

It’s scarily common. Lippert may help. RV manufacturer likely won’t.

Fortunately, it’s not a terrible fix.

babock · 09-13-2019, 02:05 AM

If your trailer has spread axles, they have this issue more than trailers that don't. Turning into tight spaces puts a tremendous amount of stress on the hangers on these spread suspensions. Does yours have spread axles?

Even though I don't have spread axles, I welded in reinforcement channels between the axle hangers for all 3 hangers. This is actually part of the fix that Lippert recommends to fix these things. I was being proactive.

BaltimoreMark · 09-13-2019, 06:31 AM

Attached picture. I have tandem not spread axles in my 200mble TT. Does anyone have a contact for Lippert?

Iwannacamp · 09-13-2019, 06:51 AM

That’s been broke for a while.

BaltimoreMark · 09-13-2019, 07:02 AM

That's what the local RV service guy said too. Must be why my tires were wearing unevenly

**Bama Rambler** · 09-13-2019, 07:49 AM

I think your best bet is to contact a local welder and have them come on site and patch that.

You'll have to cut out some Coroplast, but that's easily repaired. Also make sure the welder has some fire blankets to wrap any hoses and/or wiring in the vicinity.

5er_tom · 09-13-2019, 10:50 AM

I have had that failure twice. Yes, find a local portable welder who can come to you. Ask at the CG office if they know of anyone in the area, or google it and make a few calls. Couple of hundred dollars and you should be good. Be sure to check, and maybe add extra bracing to the other side.

MillMitch · 09-13-2019, 10:58 AM

what's a spread axle?

clarkbre · 09-13-2019, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaltimoreMark

Attached picture. I have tandem not spread axles in my 200mble TT. Does anyone have a contact for Lippert?

I had this exact same issue happen to my 2017 Forest River Surveyor as well. Upon reviewing pictures, Lippert immediately accepted liability and covered the $6,000 repair to fix the broken spring hanger, remove and replace the 5 others and replace all the leaf springs.

From your pictures, it is clear that it has been broken for a long time. Have a welding shop verify that the original welds did not properly bond.

My failure happened at the 4000 mile mark.

Here is a link to the thread for my repair. Beware: Leaf spring hanger & chassis separation

PM me with any questions as I know exactly what you're going through with your Surveyor.

Contact:
Garth Collins,
Contact Center Technical Rep, Warranty
Phone: 574.537.8900
Fax: 574.534.7161
Email: customerservice@lci1.com

Also include:
Katherine Ebbole,
Surveyor's Warranty person
Email: kebbole@forestriverinc.com

**ependydad** · 09-13-2019, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MillMitch

what's a spread axle?

Where the axles are wide apart vs. close together.

Ida Ratherbe Camping · 09-13-2019, 12:58 PM

If the weld didn't penetrate, then the bracket would be the only thing torn lose. As the pic looks, the weld held but the thin frame that it was welded to didn't and tore frame. That why hole in frame and the pieces till attached to bracket.

rlocicero · 09-13-2019, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaltimoreMark

3 year old Surveyor 200MBLE with 8000 miles. Went to change a tire that was wearing on the outside and when I jacked up the RV, the spring Hanger was no longer attached to the frame. Showed a local RV repair guy some pictures and he verified the frame weld cracked where it attached to the hanger. It is undriveable and I'm stuck at Hickory Run SP in PA. There is rust on the frame around the hanger and a hole in the frame. I'll be calling my dealership tomorrow. Anyone else have this issue? Will Forrest River or Lippert repair this defect, my RV is a 2017, bought it new. Any suggestions?

Check your local codes and welding to the frame Some municipalities won’t let you weld anything into a frame I’m not sure if the same for RVs but I know it is for automobiles.

pdqparalegal1 · 09-13-2019, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlocicero

Check your local codes and welding to the frame Some municipalities won’t let you weld anything into a frame I’m not sure if the same for RVs but I know it is for automobiles.

I hear a lot of misinformation on this forum, but this is a new one to me.
Would like to see the statute or regulation in print.

Iwannacamp · 09-13-2019, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdqparalegal1

I hear a lot of misinformation on this forum, but this is a new one to me.

Would like to see the statute or regulation in print.

It’s from a truck world I think. There are rules there for sure.

...if one could not weld to an RV frame...we would be in trouble

pdqparalegal1 · 09-13-2019, 03:29 PM

Commercial, over the road vehicles are a different breed for sure. I can see it for them, those frames are a special alloy and carry a lot of weight. Safety first!

nayther · 09-13-2019, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ida Ratherbe Camping

If the weld didn't penetrate, then the bracket would be the only thing torn lose. As the pic looks, the weld held but the thin frame that it was welded to didn't and tore frame. That why hole in frame and the pieces till attached to bracket.

those were my thoughts as soon as I saw the second photo. it looks like it tore out the bottom flange of the frame member itself!

babock · 09-13-2019, 05:43 PM

Out of curiosity, what is the distance hub to hub in inches?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaltimoreMark

Attached picture. I have tandem not spread axles in my 200mble TT. Does anyone have a contact for Lippert?

BaltimoreMark · 09-13-2019, 07:12 PM

Wanted to close the loop. The forum has been VERY helpful. Got a local high end RV guy to send his mobile welding unit to the campground, they welded the hanger back to the frame. It was enough so I could tow my TT to their shop 6 miles away. They followed me to make sure I was ok. Their shop welded a thicker L piece to the frame, and re did the hanger weld. Completely painted the frame and patched the coroplast under the RV. They checked the other side of the trailer and it seemed ok. Said to wire brush and paint with Por15 to prevent more rust.

Extremely professional job, very nice people, knowledgeable. John and Justin Cherry of Evolution Custom Coach, White Haven, PA. I'll be heading back to Maryland tomorrow morning.

Thanks Brendan for the Info and contacts at Lippert, I'll contact them tomorrow and see if I can get reimbursed for their poor frame welding.

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